recognizance

[ ri-kog-nuh-zuh ns, -kon-uh- ]

/ rɪˈkɒg nə zəns, -ˈkɒn ə- /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR recognizance ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

Law.

a bond or obligation of record entered into before a court of record or a magistrate, binding a person to do a particular act.
the sum pledged as surety on such a bond.

Archaic. recognition.

Archaic. a token; badge.

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of recognizance

1350–1400; Middle English reconissaunce, recognisance < Old French reconuissance. See recognize, -ance

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for recognizance

He was released within the hour without a bond on his own recognizance.
What Would Happen if I Got in White Cop’s Face?|Goldie Taylor|December 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Williams was released on his own recognizance over the weekend and is expected back before a judge on Feb. 9, 2015.
Exposed: The Gay-Bashing Pastor’s Same-Sex Assault|M.L. Nestel|December 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Addison spent four nights in jail, she told me on FaceTime during a period when she was out on her own recognizance.
Let’s Free Stacey Addison, The Oregon Woman Jailed at the Ends of the Earth|Christopher Dickey|October 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Luchkiw was released on her own recognizance, as would have normally been the case in such a bust.
A Sax Player, Then a Suspect After Philip Seymour Hoffman’s Final Act|Michael Daly|February 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST

She was released on her recognizance and is now back on the streets.
Amanda Bynes Wigs Out|Kevin Fallon|May 24, 2013|DAILY BEAST
I believe the man has entered into some sort of recognizance to keep the peace, and has disappeared.
The Man Between|Amelia E. Barr
Perhaps Mr. Hooker will accept my recognizance in the amount?
Thomas Wingfold, Curate|George MacDonald
Some pay and many refuse; but such as do refuse he requires to enter into a recognizance of so much money to attend the council.
The Chronicles of Newgate, vol. 1/2|Arthur Griffiths
William Wells, one years imprisonment, and at its expiration to enter into his own recognizance of 20l.
The Chronicles of Crime or The New Newgate Calendar. v. 2/2|Camden Pelham
And I will enter into a recognizance for any sum to appear and prove my right if it should be disputed.
Hidden Hand|Emma Dorothy Eliza Nevitte Southworth

British Dictionary definitions for recognizance

recognizance

recognisance

/ (rɪˈkɒɡnɪzəns) /

noun

law

a bond entered into before a court or magistrate by which a person binds himself to do a specified act, as to appear in court on a stated day, keep the peace, or pay a debt
a monetary sum pledged to the performance of such an act

an obsolete word for recognition

Derived Formsrecognizant or recognisant, adjective

Word Origin for recognizance

C14: from Old French reconoissance, from reconoistre to recognize

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for recognizance

recognizance

early 14c., reconisaunce, "a bond acknowledging some obligation binding one over to do some particular act," from Old French reconissance "acknowledgment, recognition" (12c., Modern French reconnaissance), from reconoiss-, present participle stem of reconoistre (see recognize). Related: Recognizant.